The year? 2006. This was my favorite Stanley Cup Finals (that didn't involve the Devils) because it was a brutal series with great goaltending and was just what the NHL needed the season after the lockout year. The 8th ranked Edmonton Oilers met the 2nd seeded Carolina Huricanes in the finals.
The Hurricanes got destroyed in game 1 to the Canadiens in round 1 by a score of 6-1 and after another 3 quick goals in game 2, 22 year old Cam Ward replaced Martin Gerber in net. The result? Even though they lost that game 2 in overtime, they went on to win 4 straight.
Next the 'Canes met the Devils. Game 1 was dominated by the Canes and skunked the Devils by a score of 6-1. Game 2 was one of the best games in NHL history. The Devils finally got a lead in the series when Zach Parise scored with 20 seconds left in the game. But the Devils let up and Eric Staal tied it for the Hurricanes with just 3 seconds to go. The Hurricanes ended up winning this one in overtime. Much of the same in game 3 in New Jersey. Another tight game but the Hurricanes managed to take a 3 games to 0 lead by a score of 3-2. The Devils won game 4 but were beat in game 5 and Carolina cruised to the next round.
The Sabres and the Hurricanes were very similar. Same strengths on defense, both opportunistic offense, and both had rookie goalies who have played stellar. In game 1 it went back and forth but the Sabres came hard and came often and Ward gave up 3 goals and they lost 3-2. A crazy game 2 game where the Canes came out electric and almost blew a 3 goal lead but held on. Game 3 was much of the same. Buffalo was electric and they once again came at Ward who gave up 4 goals and was eventually pulled from the game. Carolina almost came back this time from down 3 but came up just shy. Game 4 had Gerber starting in net for the Hurricanes. He answered the call and pitched a shutout and the 'Canes won 4-0 to deadlock the series at 2 games a piece. Game 5 also had Gerber starting but he gave up 3 quick and ugly goals and down 3-1, Ward was switched back in (sounds like this season's Flyers). Carolina fought back and managed to tie up the game and win it in overtime and had the chance to eliminate the Sabres in game 6. Another overtime game in game 6 but this time Danny Briere ended it for the Sabres by scoring off of Ward. Game 7 had the Sabres winning by a goal entering the third. The Sabres were down a few defensemen and it showed as the Hurricanes scored 3 unanswered goals in the third and won the game to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The journey was quite different for the Edmonton Oilers. The 8th best team in the West played the leagues best Red Wings in the first round. After losing a heart-breaking double-overtime game in the first game, the Oilers were able to muster up a solid 4-2 win in game 2. *This just in: Osama Bin Laden is reported to be dead!* The Oilers then took command of the series with a game 3 win in Edmonton with a double-overtime win of their own. And then after a game 4 loss, they completed the upset and beat the Red Wings 3-2 and then 4-3. In their game 6 win, they came back from down 2-0 and then they tied the game on a controversial no-kick call for Ales Hemsky who later ended the game with a goal with 1 minute left in the game.
The first 2 games were in favor of the 5th ranked San Jose' Sharks. After winning 2 ugly games early on by the score of 2-1, the Sharks fell apart. First they lost a tough 3-2 triple-OT loss in Edmonton from a goal by Shawn Horcoff. Then they blew an early 3-1 deficit and gave up 5 unanswered goals and just like that the series was tied. In game 5, the Oilers erupted in the third period and won yet again 6-3. Game 6 was pretty much all Edmonton and goalie Dwayne Roloson got his first shutout of the playoffs 2-0.
The Oilers beat the Ducks in game 1 of round 3 by goals from Hemsky, and Peca (shorthanded). Anaheim lost the must win game 2. They were putting a lot of pressure on Roloson but he played well and Edmonton were able to score a few goals and went back home with a commanding 2-0 lead. The Oilers cruised through game 3 at home and had a 4-0 lead at a point. But the Ducks began to climb back. They scored three goals to make it close but after an insurance goal by Pisani, the Ducks fell short and lost 5-4. In game 4, the Ducks easily beat the Oilers 6-3 but they were only delaying the inevitable. Back in Anaheim, the Ducks had an early lead but after surrendering goals to Raffi Torres and Ethan Moreau, they were down a goal and their season was on the line with a minute to go. They had the rare opportunity of a 6 man to 3 advantage (2 powerplays and they pulled their goalie) but Roloson and the Oilers shut the door and made it to the finals.
In game one of the finals, the 'Canes came back from a record breaking 3 goal deficit and won 5-4. In that game, Roloson went down a series ending knee injury (more on this later). With 30 seconds to go in regulation, Edmonton backup Ty Conklin committed, what is now, one of the most memorable finishes to a Stanley Cup Final game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKrDzJdgrsU.
In game 2, Jussi Markkanen started for the Oilers but to no avail as the Hurricanes skunked Edmonton 5-0.
Markkanen started game 3 also for Edmonton, now down 2 games to none. This game ended in controversy as with just over 2 minutes left in the game, Ryan Smyth banged home a rebound to give Edmonton a 1 goal lead. Carolina complained it should have been waived off for goalie interference but no such call was made and Edmonton won 2-1.
Edmonton's powerplay remained missing in game 4 as they went 0-5 on the man advantage and they fell to a 3-1 series deficit.
Pronger scored a mere 16 seconds into game 5 and the back-and-forth affair ended in overtime on Pisani's overtime shorthanded goal (first time it ever happened)
Game 6 is one of my favorite games of all time. It wasn't close or anything but Edmonton just dominated on home ice when they were facing elimination. Here is a high-tempo video from youtube on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRLFyafSuEo.
All good things came to an end in game 7 and Carolina celebrated the cup victory. Ward was given the Conn Smythe trophy for playoff MVP. He had 2 dazzling saves throughout the playoffs and it was well deserved.
Now to the point (and relevance to today) of this post.
Dwayne Roloson has been utterly outstanding so far for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He leads all playoff goalies in wins, most shots faced, 2nd in GAA, 1st in SV%, and he's been on the ice the longest out of any playoff goalie so far. The goalie (who depressingly started off the season on the Islanders) seems poised to make a long playoff run with the Lightning who have looked excellent as of late in the playoffs, winning their last 5 games. Roloson, who shut out the Penguins in game 7 of round 1 1-0, says he doesn't feel different about being in the playoffs again. This was his first time since that golden 2006 run and he says he's just taking it a game at a time. “No. You still have the same enthusiasm, the same mental makeup, the same everything.." said the 41 year old goalie. The Lightning needed goaltending and traded for Roloson on January 1st. The result was instant improvement and the Lightning excelled with him in net. Everyone attached to Roloson, whether it be former teammates, or current teammates, said how competitive he is. “We’ve seen in previous years what he’s done,” Steven Stamkos said, “and he’s doing it again now.” No doubt Roloson knows this might be the last time he has at reaching the Stanley Cup. He had a tough break when he got injured in 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoZNiv6kysc. He was clobbered in an ugly collision and missed out on making the final steps toward ultimate victory. Imagine riding a bike up a big mountain, and with just several feet to go to get to the top, you lose your balance and tumble all the way back down the mountain. This was exactly what happened to "Roli the Goalie" in '06 but this year he's determined to win it all this time.
